New momentum to build social protection capacities in the Arab region

BEIRUT (ILO News) - The International Labour Organization (ILO) and partner UN agencies are scaling up support to strengthen social protection systems in Arab countries across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region in response to growing pressures from conflict, displacement, economic instability and climate shocks.

Through newly developed and updated training modules, the initiative aims to help governments build more integrated and shock-responsive systems, expanding coverage, improving adequacy of benefits, and better protecting vulnerable and historically excluded groups in times of crisis and beyond. The new modules were developed under TRANSFORM in the Arab region, an innovative capacity development initiative focused on the administration of national social protection floors in the MENA region. It is Co-chaired by the ILO and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and further supported by the World Food Programme (WFP), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA). The initiative builds technical capacity at national and subnational levels through a cohort of Arabic speaking master trainers, using an action based and experiential learning methodology.

© UNICEF

© UNICEF

New integrated social protection module

One of the new modules is the ‘Extending Coverage and Improving Protection through Integrated Social Protection Systems’ module, piloted by TRANSFORM in Tunis, Tunisia in May 2025. The new module was developed by TRANSFORM member agencies ILO, UNICEF and the global network Women in Informal Employment: Globalizing and Organizing (WIEGO), with support from the multi-development partner initiative Sustaining and Accelerating Access to Responsible and Inclusive Social Protection (STAAR).

The module focuses on the theme of integration, encouraging participants to reflect on how contributory and non-contributory schemes, institutions, data systems, and services can be better connected. Integration is not presented an end in itself, rather as a means to improve social protection coverage, adequacy, and responsiveness, especially for those who have been historically excluded or underserved. The module also piloted an immersive methodology, through which course participants understand the real-life challenges of marginalised groups through role-play and realistic scenarios, adapted to the different regional contexts.

© UNICEF

© UNICEF

An updated shock responsive social protection approach

Another key element of the newly developed content is the significantly revised Shock Responsive Social Protection (SRSP) module, which was successfully piloted in Amman, Jordan in November 2025. The pilot was jointly organized by WFP, UNICEF and the ILO, with funding from STAAR, and delivered under the framework of the TRANSFORM in the Arab region initiative.

The revised SRSP module responds to the increasingly complex and protracted nature of shocks affecting the region. Building on TRANSFORM’s existing curriculum, the updated module expands the analytical and operational framing of shock responsive social protection to better reflect current realities, including forced displacement, conflict and fragility, and climate change.

The November pilot brought together practitioners and experts from the Jordanian government, UN agencies, and TRANSFORM Master Trainers for an intensive four-day training workshop. Participants engaged with newly revised content that explores how social protection systems can prepare for anticipatory action, building economic security, and inclusive responses in contexts of displacement, climate stress, and conflict. Interactive sessions combined technical inputs with case studies, group work and simulations to facilitate peer learning and practical application.

The revision process was jointly led by UNICEF, WFP and ILO, ensuring that the revised module not only reflects the latest global frameworks and evidence, but also remains grounded in the lived realities and policy challenges of the MENA region.

The newly developed and updated modules mark an important milestone for the TRANSFORM as it continues to adapt its curriculum to emerging regional priorities. Together, they reinforce TRANSFORM’s commitment to supporting governments and partners in designing and delivering inclusive, robust, and integrated social protection systems.